AAP accuses BJP of receiving funds from unknown,foreign donors

AAP alleged BJP of receiving 75 per cent of its funds from unknown sources.

Hitting back at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the party funding issue, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that the saffron party received 75 per cent of its funds from unknown sources and also accepted donations from a Goa based businessman, whose name cropped up in a black money case.

“It is a classic case of pot calling the kettle black, in which the party which has three-fourth of its donations from hidden sources is levelling absurd allegations on AAP, which has introduced the concept of transparent political funding in the country,” Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Yogendra Yadav said.

The party is filing a criminal defamation suit against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) , which has alleged that AAP was diverting funds from NGOs of its leaders. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also alleged that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has not disclosed the names of its donors.

“Is it not a fact that on March 29 this year, the Delhi High Court found Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) guilty of receiving foreign funds in violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act? Is it not a fact that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accepted donations of Rs 1.18 crore from the owner of Goa-based private company, who was recently named by the central government in its list of black money account holders abroad?” he alleged.

The AAP leader also claimed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accepted donations from another foreign company.

“Is it not a fact that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) received Rs 19,42,50,000 as foreign funds between 2004 and 2012 and can it deny that 75 per cent of its donations come from unknown sources?” Yadav alleged.

He asked Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to prove its “motivated” and “uninformed” allegations and AAP was ready for any probe by any agency in the matter.

Party chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also challenged BJP to disclose the list of their donors as his party has done and accused the saffron party of “terrorising” those who have donated money to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

He also took a jibe at the media for “arbitrary coverage” of the allegations levelled by the ruling party.

“Media has widely covered arbitrary and baseless allegations by BJP against our funding. We are filing criminal defamation against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) .

“I have been challenging Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress to disclose their list of donors (the way we do). Would media give similar coverage to us? For the first time, a political party (is) trying transparent funding n disclosing its list of donors. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) trying to terrorise our donors. Fair?” the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief wrote on micro-blogging website Twitter.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had organised lunch for traders, with an entry fee of Rs 20,000. The party collected a whopping sum of Rs 50 lakh.

In a similar event held in Mumbai last Thursday, the party had fetched Rs 91 lakh, taking the total to Rs 1.41 crore in just two such events.

In abroad, say for instance in USA also, the crony capitalists along with the medias campaign in favor of the political parties. But because of their stringent laws every political party is much more liable for their accountability and transparency. There such ridiculous law of our land, where the parties need not reveal the source of any donation below
Rs 20,000 does not exist.. So, here in India what all parties do is to show a large portion of their total funds as coming from small donations, and thus do not reveal where they got this money from. That's why traditional political parties shamelessly refuse to come under RTI.
But in other developed democratic countries, perhaps as they are more educated or patriot than we are, there, particularly the people from media arrange debates among the main candidates of the political parties fighting their elections so that general people like us can decide to whom we will vote. Then also, I must admit, despite of that, a movement like "Occupy Wall-Street" cropped up in USA due to the increasing inequality because of the nexus between the crony capitalists and the government. In India we can see how civil wars are braking up in form of Naxals and Maoists.
We can see the light of hope when the EC warns the political parties for withdrawing their recognition if the statements, pertaining to recently held embly and General elections, are not filed and sent to it within the next fortnight. At the same time I would request the people from media, please arrange debates among the political parties main candidates before Delhi Election, if any party is not willing to partite, declare them BHAGORA.